Automotive fan and shroud assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly (12) for moving air through a heat exchanger (10) comprising a shroud (14) for mating with a heat exchanger (10) and a fan (20) disposed in the rear opening (18) of the shroud (14). The fan (20) comprises a hub (22) having an axis (A) and blades (24) extending radially from the hub (22) to distal ends for moving air through the shroud (14). The assembly is characterized by a bearing ring mechanism (28, 30) interconnecting the distal ends of the blades (24) and the shroud (14) for rotatably supporting the fan (20) solely by the shroud (14). The bearing ring mechanism (28, 30) includes a ring (28) surrounding and interconnecting the distal ends of the fan blades (24) a guideway (30) in the shroud (14) supporting and retaining a head (32) extending from the ring (28) for rotation relative to the shroud (14). Also disclosed is a floating drive assembly (52, 54, 56) including an inner drive member (64), an outer drive member (68, 70), and a flexible transmission (74, 75) interconnecting the members for rotating the drive members together while allowing relative radial movement between the drive members as the drive members rotate the fan (20).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject invention relates to automotive vehicle cooling and, moreparticularly, to the fan and shroud combination for directing airthrough an adjacent heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive vehicles are powered by liquid cooled engines. The liquid iscooled by being circulated through a heat exchanger. The heat exchangertransfers heat from the liquid to air passing through the heatexchanger. The air is moved through the heat exchanger by a fan. Inorder to maximize the air flow through the heat exchanger to maximizethe capacity to withdraw heat from the liquid, a cowling or shroudsurrounds the fan and the heat exchanger. It is the objective of theshroud to prevent leakage of air around the heat exchanger, i.e., toprevent leakage and make sure all of the air moved by the fan movesthrough the heat exchanger.

The fan includes a plurality of radially extending blades with thedistal ends of the blades adjacent the shroud. There have been variousdevelopments for reducing the leakage between the distal ends of the fanblades and the shroud. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,977 to Rabouyt et aldiscloses elastic seals and U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,902 to Poslusnydiscloses a combination of labyrinthine seals while U.S. Pat. No.5,183,382 discloses a combination of elastic or flexible members in alabyrinth-type seal combination. On the other hand, the U.S. Pat. No.5,342,173 to Vera discloses a profiled annular hoop at the distal endsof the fan blades for aerodynamically controlling air flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

An assembly for moving air through a heat exchanger comprising a shroudpresenting a front opening for mating with a heat exchanger andpresenting a rear opening with a fan disposed in the rear opening of theshroud. The fan includes a hub having an axis and blades extendingradially from the hub to distal ends for moving air through the shroud.The assembly is characterized by a bearing ring mechanisminterconnecting the distal ends of the blades and the shroud forrotatably supporting the fan solely by the shroud.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view partially broken away and in crosssection;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the drive assembly;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the floating drive member of thesubject invention;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 through 11 are fragmentary cross sectional views of variousembodiments of the bearing ring mechanism interconnecting the distalends of the blades.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, an assembly for movingair through a heat exchanger, generally shown at 10, is generally shownat 12. The assembly 12 includes a shroud 14 presenting a front opening16 for mating with the heat exchanger 10 and presenting a rear opening18. The assembly 12 also includes a fan 20 disposed in the rear opening18 and comprising a hub 22 having an axis A and blades 24 extendingradially from the hub 22 to distal ends 26 (shown in FIG. 1) for movingair through the shroud 14.

The assembly 12 is characterized by a bearing ring mechanism 28, 30interconnecting the distal ends 26 of the blades 24 and the shroud 14for rotatably supporting the fan 20 solely by the shroud 14. The bearingring mechanism 28, 30 includes a ring 28 surrounding and interconnectingthe distal ends 26 of the fan blades 24 and a guideway 30 supporting andretaining the ring 28 for rotation relative to the shroud 14. The ring28 defines a head 32 as viewed in cross section and the guideway 30embraces the head 32. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11, the ring 28also defines a web 34 extending radially as viewed in cross section tosupport the head. The web 34 is more narrow in the axial direction thanthe head and the guideway 30 embraces the head adjacent each side of theweb 34 to underlie the head. In other words, the guideway 30 is C-shapedto encircle the head with the web 34 extending through the opening ofthe C-shape.

Various alternative constructions of the head 32 and guideway 30 areillustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11. In FIG. 8, the head 32a has aspherical shape as viewed in cross section and the guideway is definedby two components 30a and 30b and a connection bolt 36 for connectingthe components 30a and 30b together to embrace the spherical head 32a.In FIG. 9, the head 32b has a rectangular shape as viewed in crosssection and the guideway is defined by two components 30c and 30d andconnection adhesive connects the components 30c and 30d together toembrace the rectangular head 32b. In FIG. 10, the head 32c has arectangular shape as viewed in cross section and the guideway is definedby two components 30e and 30d and a connection bolt 38 connects thecomponents 30e and 30d together to embrace the rectangular head 32c. Inaddition, a plurality of beatings 40 are disposed between the flanges ofthe head 32c and the lips of the guideway as defined by the components30e and 30d thereof. In FIG. 11, the head 32d has a triangular shape asviewed in cross section and the guideway is defined by two integralcomponents 30g and 30h and the terminal component 30h is wrapped aroundthe head 32d for connecting the guideway 30a and 30b to the triangularhead 32d.

The assembly 12 also includes a floating drive assembly operativelyconnected to the fan 20 for rotating the fan 20 relative to the shroud14 while allowing relative radial movement between the drive assemblyand the axis A of the hub 22 to accommodate relative movement betweenthe drive assembly and the fan 20 as the drive assembly rotates the fan20.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the drive assembly transmits power from anautomotive engine 42 to the fan 20. An automotive vehicle includes aframe 44 and the engine 42 is supported on the frame 44 by motor mounts46 for vibrational type movement relative thereto, as is well known inthe art. The heat exchanger 10 is supported by the frame 44 throughbracket 48 adjacent the heat exchanger 10 for directing air through theheat exchanger. Actually, the shroud 14 has side flanges 50 (FIG. 1)which are bolted or otherwise secured to the sides of the heat exchanger10 for engaging the front opening 16 of the shroud 14 in air tightrelationship with the heat exchanger. As is well known, the enginevibrates or otherwise racks and moves relative to the frame 44 andconsequently the heat exchanger 10 and shroud 14. The motor mounts 46are made of resilient material to accommodate such relative movement.

The subject invention provides a drive assembly which allows relativemovement between the drive input and the fan 20. Such a drive assemblyallows the elimination of the gap between the tips of the fan blades andthe shroud, which, in turn, to prevent air leakage around the tips ofthe fan blades. The hub 22 is keyed to and driven by a shaft 50, whichis, in turn, rotated by the pulley 52. A drive belt 54 is entrainedaround the pulley 52 and a floating pulley 56. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the floating pulley 56 is keyed to and rotated by theshaft 58 which is rotated by the engine 46, i.e., the drive assemblyoperatively interconnects the engine 46 and the fan 20 to accommodatethe vibrational type movement of the engine 46 relative to the fan 20.In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the floating pulley 56 is keyed toand rotated by a shaft which is rotated by an electric motor 60. Theelectric motor 60 is supported by the shroud 14 via a bracket 62 whichbolted or glued to support structure, such as the vehicle frame 44 orthe shroud 14.

The floating pulley is generally indicated at 56 in FIGS. 4 and 5 and ischaracterized by including an inner drive member 64 keyed to a shaft 66and a two component outer drive member 68, 70. The outer drive membercomprises a primary component 68 which includes a belt receiving annularpulley ring extending around and in radially spaced relationship to theperiphery of the inner drive member 64. A flange extends radiallyinwardly from the annular pulley ring to slidably engage the side of theinner drive member 64. A secondary component 70 of the outer drivemember comprises a disc secured with fasteners 72 to the open side ofthe annular pulley ring to slidably engage the other side of the innerdrive member 64. Accordingly, the inner drive member 64 is disposed andretained between the radially inwardly extending flanges of the outerdrive member 68, 70. A flexible transmission interconnects the inner 64and outer 68 drive members for rotating the drive members together whileallowing relative radial movement between the drive members as the drivemembers rotate the fan. The flexible transmission is based upon aresilient or flexible component disposed between the inner 64 and outer68, 70 drive members. As illustrated, that resilient or flexiblecomponent is defined by a plurality of springs 74 which are disposedbetween the shaft 66 and an annular collar 77 extending axially from thedisc component 70. Alternatively or in addition, an elastic material 75may be disposed in the radial space between the periphery of the innerdrive member 64 and the inside of the annular pulley ring of the primarycomponent 68 of the outer drive member. The inner drive member 64 has aplurality of holes 76 extending therethrough form side to side and pins78 are supported between the side flange of the primary component 68 andthe secondary disc component 70 to extend through the holes 76.Accordingly, the outer drive member 68, 70 may orbit in a vertical planerelative to the inner drive member 64. Therefore, the resilient orflexible connection, through the springs 74 rotates the drive members 64and 68, 70 together while allowing relative radial, i.e., orbital oroffset, movement between the drive members as the drive members rotatethe fan 20.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in fight of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, whereinreference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in anyway limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly (12) for moving air through a heatexchanger (10) comprising:a shroud (14) presenting a front opening (16)for mating with a heat exchanger (10) and presenting a rear opening(18), a fan (20) disposed in said rear opening (18) comprising a hub(22) having an axis (A) and blades (24) extending radially from said hub(22) to distal ends for moving air through said shroud (14), and abearing mechanism (28, 30) interconnecting said distal ends of saidblades (24) and said shroud (14) for rotatably supporting said fan (20)solely by said shroud (14) and including a ring (28) surrounding andinterconnecting said distal ends of said fan blades (24) and a guideway(30) in said shroud (14) supporting and retaining said ring (28) forrotation relative to said shroud (14), and wherein said ring (28)defines a head (32) as viewed in cross section and said guideway (30)embraces said head (32).
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid ring (28) defines a web (34) extending radially as viewed in crosssection to support said head (32), said web (34) being more narrow inthe axial direction than said head (32) and said guideway (30) embracessaid head (32) adjacent each side of said web (34) to underlie said head(32).
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guideway (30)is defined by two components (30a,b,c,d,e,f,g and h) and a connection(36, 38) for connecting said components together to embrace said head(32).
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head (32) hasa rectangular shape (32b and c) as viewed in cross section.
 5. Anassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head (32) has a sphericalshape (32a) as viewed in cross section.
 6. An assembly as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said head (32) has a triangular shape (32d) as viewed incross section.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including anautomotive vehicle comprising a frame (44), an engine (42), mounts (46)for supporting said engine (42) on said frame (44) for vibrational typemovement relative thereto, and a heat exchanger (10) supported by saidframe (44), said shroud (14) supported relative to said frame (44)adjacent said heat exchanger (10) for directing air through said heatexchanger (10).
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 including afloating drive assembly (52, 54, 56) operatively connected to said fan(20) for rotating said fan (20) relative to said shroud (14) whileallowing relative radial movement between said drive assembly (52, 54,56) and said axis (A) of said hub (22) to accommodate relative movementbetween said drive assembly (52, 54, 56) and said fan (20) as said driveassembly (52, 54, 56) rotates said fan (20).
 9. An assembly as set forthin claim 8 wherein said drive assembly (52, 54, 56) operativelyinterconnects said engine (42) and said fan (20) to accommodate saidvibrational type movement of said engine (42) relative to said fan (20).10. An assembly (12) for moving air through a heat exchanger (10)comprising:a shroud (14) presenting a front opening (16) for mating witha heat exchanger (10) and presenting a rear opening (18), a fan (20)disposed in said rear opening (18) comprising a hub (22) having an axis(A) and blades (24) extending radially from said hub (22) to distal endsfor moving through said shroud (14), a bearing mechanism (28, 30)interconnecting said distal ends of said blades (24) and said shroud(14) for rotatably supporting said fan (20) solely by said shroud (14),and a floating drive assembly (52, 54, 56) supported independently ofsaid shroud (14) and operatively connected to said hub (22) of said fan(20) for rotating said fan (20) relative to said shroud (14) whileallowing relative radial movement between said drive assembly (52, 54,56) and said axis (A) of said hub (22) to accommodate relative movementradially between said drive assembly (52, 54, 56) and said fan (20) assaid drive assembly (52, 54, 56) rotates said fan (20).